Lyra McKeeLyra McKee’s death is being treated as a ‘terrorist incident’Petrol bombs are thrown at police in Creggan, Derry. Photo: PALyra McKeeLyra McKeeHijacked vehicles on fire in Creggan, Derry. Photo: PAThe scene of unrest in Creggan, Derry. Photo: PAHeavilly armed police guard a crime scene during unrest in the Creggan area of Derry. Photo: PAArmed police in Creggan, Derry after shots were fired and petrol bombs were thrown at police. Photo: PAA PSNI officer conducts a search after shots where reportedly fired in Creggan, Derry. Photo: PA

Tributes have been paid to journalist Lyra McKee who was murdered at the scene of rioting in Derry, with President Michael D Higgins calling her a “woman of talent and commitment.”

Police have opened a murder investigation and are treating it as a “terrorist incident”.

News of the 29-year-old’s killing spread quickly on social media in the early hours of Friday morning with many paying tribute.

Lyra was well known not just in Belfast but across the UK and in many parts of the world. She worked mainly as a freelance writer and had worked for Thomson Reuters Foundation.

She was author of ‘Angels With Blue Faces’ on the Troubles murder of the Reverend Robert Bradford, the MP for South Belfast and had been investigating the disappearance and young men during the Troubles for her second book.

She was said to have a “promising writing career ahead of her” and in 2016 she was named one of Forbes 30 under 30 in media in Europe and Sky News young journalist of the year.

President Higgins said that Ms McKee’s death has caused “shock and outrage.”

“The people of Ireland will have heard with both shock, outrage and great sadness of the killing of the young journalist Lyra McKee in Derry last evening – a woman of talent and commitment, who was shot exercising her profession.

Lyra McKee’s death is being treated as a ‘terrorist incident’

“Sabina and I send our deepest sympathies to her family and friends and to all those who knew and worked with her.”

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar condemned the killing of Ms McKee and extended his condolences to her loved ones.

He said: “The Government condemns in the strongest possible terms the fatal shooting of journalist and writer Lyra McKee in Derry.

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“We are all full of sadness after last night’s events.

Armed police at the scene of unrest in Creggan, Derry. Photo: PAHeavilly armed police guard a crime scene during unrest in the Creggan area of Derry
Photo credit: Niall Carson/PA WireA PSNI officer conducts a search after shots where reportedly fired in Creggan, Derry. Photo: PAA hijacked car explodes after being set on fire in Creggan, Derry. Photo: PAArmed police in Creggan, Derry after shots were fired and petrol bombs were thrown at police. Photo: PAHijacked vehicles on fire in Creggan, Derry. Photo: PAPolice conduct a crime scene search after shots where fired in Creggan, Derry. Photo: PAHijacked vehicles one fire in Creggan, Derry. Photo: PA

“We cannot allow those who want to propagate violence, fear and hate to drag us back to the past.

“I would like to express my sincere condolences to Lyra’s family, her partner Sara and her friends. Our solidarity also goes out to the people of Derry and to the entire journalism community.”